Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow;
He who would search for pearls, must dive below.
-- John Dryden



Pearl, having blasted off into the thicket, was gaining considerable momentum until Taunne's dominant bark tore through the air. Pearl, shocked by the volume and intensity of the order, tried to stop quickly, but as a result she tripped and somersaulted deeper into the forest. She landed with a thud in a soft pile of pine needles, sending a shower of the dry foliage into the air. Luckily, she was just fine, but she got up slowly anyway and slinked back to the edge of the river bank. There, a wet, muddy mess of puppy, she curled her fluffy tail between her legs and whimpered pathetically, apparently begging for the wolf warrior's forgiveness. She truly was a good pup, but she could be reckless at times without the guidance of a parent. She relied only on her mistakes for education, so she had learned a lot in the past few months of her life.

The storm system was moving fast, and it was upon them now. A loud thunder crack and lightning flash announced the impending storm. Pearl yelped in fear and inched closer to Taunne, seeking the protection of anything that would take mercy on her poor, shivering soul. Her wide, weary eyes told the story of her loneliness and her fear. At that moment, perhaps the pinnacle of her wretchedness, the clouds loosed their water and torrential downpour fell heavily upon the wolves. Having inched herself closer, Pearl was practically at Taunne's front paws now, looking up desperately into his eyes. Would the noble guardian guide her? Would she be abandoned once more? Or would her fate be much, much worse?